Seat



April 24, 1951 D.-L. HIBBARD ET AL SEAT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 2, 1945 INVENTORS DONALD L. HIBBARD SAMUEL E. HOMSEY ATTORNEY April 24, 1951 Filed Oct. 2, 1945 A I \III HiBBARD El AL 2,549,902

SEAT

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS DONALD L. HIBBARD SAMUEL E. HOMSEY BY W Wk ATTORNEY April 24, 1951 D. HIBBARDY ET AL SEAT ' 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 2, 1945 INVENTORS DONALD L. HIBBARD BY SAMUEL E. HQMSEY ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 24, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEAT Donald L. Hibbard, Chevy Chase, Md., and Samuel E. Homsey, Washington, D. 0.

Application October 2, 1945, Serial No. 619,856

7 Claims. I

Sitting posture varies widely among individuals, yet commercially available chairs are for the most part of stereotype construction. No two persons have identical physical configurations, nor do they assume precisely the same sitting positions for maximum comfort.

Attempts have been made to construct the most comfortable average seat based upon data obtained from a large number of persons seated in a highly adjustable chair provided with indicative scales. This disclosure appears in U. S. Patent No. 2,359,318, dated October 3, 1944, and in the name of W. E. Lay et al. An adjustable chair combined with a foot stool of variable height for the use of upholsterers in ascertaining data for the design of custom furniture has also been proposed in British Patent No. 150,117, completely accepted on September 2, 1920, and in the name of A. T. Prentice. A chair back supported by spring pressed pads which are locked in place after an occupant has assumed his favorite positions in the chair is described in U. S. Patent No. 958,356 dated May 17, 1910, and in the name of P. G. A. Bode. But none of these prior art disclosures takes into sufficient account the varied requirements of individuals and their peculiar needs based upon either normal physiques or deformities.

In accordance with the present invention, a device is produced which may in itself constitute a chair, or may be used to conform to the requirements of a customer and serve as a pattern or gauge for the construction of a chair, settee, bench or other form of seat. The device may be highly adjustable and sturdy in construction, and at the same time, inexpensive to build and simple to use.

The device may comprise a frame supporting a flexible seat and back whose contours may be adjusted at a plurality of points both longitudinally and transversely of the seat and back respectively. The inclination and height of the frame may be adjusted with respect to the floor, the inclination of the seat and back may be adjusted, each with respect to the other, the depth of the seat may be varied, the spacing between the seat and back may be modified, the height and spacing of the arms may be changed, and the height of the back may be altered by incorporating an adadjustable head rest.

When employed as a guage, the various adjustments will be made to best conform to the requirements of. an individual, whereupon, the dimensions will be recorded for use in the construc- The chair depicted in the drawings comprises side members It] joined by a front brace 12 and a rear brace l4, suitably united to constitute a frame. The four lower corners of the frame are provided with vertical slots l6 for the reception of bolts l8 employed to secure feet or legs 20 adjustably to the frame. The ends of the bolts threadedly receive winged nuts 22 to secure the legs in any adjusted position.

The seat 24 comprises arigid frame defined by a top surface 26 having longitudinal members 28, transverse rounded members 30 and lower slats 32 joined thereto. A flexible covering 34 of such material as sponge rubber is stretched over the top surface 26 and around the transverse members by means of springs 36 secured to the covering 34 and slats 32. The covering 34 is conformed to the proper contour suitable to the body of the user by means of distending elements 38 comprising heads 40 imbedded in or otherwise secured to the flexible covering, and spaced at convenient intervals longitudinally and transversely thereof. Each of the heads is mounted on a shank or rod 42 which is slidably received through a sleeve 44 fastened to the underside of the top surface 26. These rods are secured in any adjusted positions with reference to their respective sleeves by means of thumb screws 4-6 threaded through a wall of each sleeve. g

The longitudinal members 28 of the seat frame are provided with forward and rear slots 48 which supporting surface 58, side members 6!), rounded end members 62, and rear slats 6d. Springs 66 fastened to these slats are also connected to the ends of a flexible covering 68 such as sponge rubber, which is presented in taut condition to the back of the occupant of the chair. As in the case of the seat, the back covering receives a plurality of distending elements l9 having heads 12 imbedded in or otherwise suitably attached to the covering material to adjust its contour to conform with the requirements of the occupant. Each head 72 is mounted on a shank or rod M,

which is adjustable through a sleeve It fastened to the supporting surface 58. Each sleeve is provided with a threaded opening in its wall to receive a headed set screw 18 for securing the rod in any adjusted position.

The side members '60 of the I provided with elongated slots 80 to permit adjustment of the spacing'between the lower end of the back and the seat, the back being clamped in adjusted position by means of a bolt 82 projected through the slot and through an opening in its adjacent side member ID.

The axial clamping is effected by means of a winged nut 84 threaded on the end of the bolt. A similar elongated slot 86 is formed in each side member 66 of the back frame in alignment with the slot 88 to receive a bolt 88' projecting there-- through and through an arcuate slot 98 provided at the upper portion of each side member ill. By virtue of the slot arrangement, the inclination of the back with respect to the seat can be adjusted over a wide range and clamped in any adjusted position by means of a winged nut 92 threaded on each of the bolts 88.

Each sidememberlifl of the back frame has projecting from its upper edge, an extension Q4, attachedto its respective side member'by one or more bolts 96. These extensions adjustably support a head rest 98 having a frame comprising a supporting surface I80, a convexupper edge I82, a concave lower edge IM, and ends I06. A flexible, resilient covering I08 of sponge rubber or the like is applied to the supporting surface and around the upper and lower edges, having its ends tied together by a suitable number of helical springs H0. To impart a desired contour to the flexible covering I68, one or more transverse rows of distending elements H2 are provided, each having a convex head H4 mounted upon a rod H 6 which slides through a sleeve :58 in which it is clamped in any adjusted position by a headed set screw I20. he ends of the head rest frame are formed with arcuate slots I 22, permitting adjustment with respect to bolts I24 which pass therethrough and through openings in the upper ends of the projecting extensions 94. Here again, clamping action is effected with winged nuts 25 threaded upon the bolts.

The spacing and inclination of-the chair arms. I28 arealso adjustable. Eachside member of the chair frame is provided with an elongated vertical slot I30 for reception of a bolt I32 projecting therethrough and through an'openingiin avertical arm support 134 to, receive a winged clamping nut I36. The upper end of the vertical arm support i pivotally related to the forward end of a horizontal arm support Hi8 by means of a suitable nut or rivet 140. The horizontal arm support contains an elongated horizontal back frame are I 4 effected by a winged nut I threaded on each such bolt.

Each horizontal arm support I38 receives a pair of bolts I46 which project through transverse slots H58 in each arm rest I50. When the bolts are loose, the arm rests may be adjusted towards and away from one another until the desired spacing is attained, whereupon, the bolts will be tightened to clamp the parts as adjusted.

With the high degree of adjustabilit possessed by the device illustrated and described, it will be clear that it will adapt itself to the needs of any individual whom it is desired to accommodate. The form of the invention illustrated is but one example of the manner in which the invention may be applied, and is not to be restrictive beyond the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A chair comprising a frame, a longitudinally and transversely flexible seat member carried by said frame, a plurality of contour modifying elements arranged in longitudinally spaced rela tionship with respect to a surface of said member, a plurality of contour modifying elements arranged in transversely spaced relationship with respect to said surface of said member, and a clamping member individual to each of said elements individually and adjustably securing each of said elements with respect to said frame independently of the others.

2. A chair comprising a frame, a longitudinally and transversely flexible back engaging member carried by said frame, a plurality of contour modifying elements arranged in longitudinally spaced relationship with respect to a surface of saidmember, a pluralit of contour modifying elements arranged in transversely spaced relationship with respect to said surface of said member. and a clamping member individual to each of said elements individually and adjustably securing each of said element with respect to said fram 1 independently of the others.

3. A chair comprising a frame, longitudinally and transversely flexible seat and back engaging members carried by said frame, a plurality of contour modifying elements arranged in 1ongi.-

tudinally spaced relationship with respect to a.

surface of each of said members, a plurality of contour modifying elements arranged in transversely spaced relationship with respect to said surface of each of said members, and a clamping member individual to each of said elements individually and adjustably securing each of said elements with respect to said frame independently '1 of the others. 7 i

l. An article of furniture comprising a frame,

a longitudinally and transversely flexible occupant supporting member carriedby said frame, a

of the others.

5. An article of furniture comprising a frame,

a longitudinally and transversely flexible occu' pant supporting member carried by said frame, a

plurality of contour modifying elements secured to said member and arranged in longitudinally and transversely spaced relationship with respect to a surface of said member, and a clamping member individual to each of said elements individ-..-- ually and adjustably' securing each of said ele 5 ments with respect to said frame independently of the others.

6. An article of furniture comprising a frame, a longitudinally and transversely flexible occupant supporting member carried by said frame, tensioning means connecting said member and frame, a plurality of contour modifying elements arranged in longitudinally spaced relationship with respect to a surface of said member, a plurality of contour modifying elements arranged in transversely Spaced relationship with respect to said surface of said member, and a clamping member individual to each of said elements individually and adjustably securing each of said elements with respect to said frame independently of the others.

7. An article of furniture comprising a frame, a longitudinally and transversely flexible expanded rubber occupant supporting member carried by said frame, a plurality of contour modifying elements arranged in longitudinally spaced relationship with respect to a surface of said member, a plurality of contour modifying elements arranged in transversely spaced relaticnship with respect to said surface of said member, and a clamping member individual to each of said elements individually and adjustably securing each of said elements with respect to said frame independently of the others.

DONALD L. HIBBARD. SAMUEL E. HOMSEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 153,478 Cutter July 28, 1874 154,069 Morrison Aug. 11, 1874 178,720 Brintnall June 13, 1876 179,259 Born June 27, 187.6 560,547 Shotwell May 19, 1896 597,878 Crandall Jan. 25, 1898 958,356 Bode May 17, 1910 1,256,856 Wittweir Feb. 19, 1918 1,465,291 Walker Aug. 21, 1923 1,506,464 Alten Aug. 26, 1924 1,685,770 Bowen Oct. 2, 1928 1,800,668 Shaver Apr. 14, 1931 1,947,410 Emerson Feb. 13, 1934 2,260,976 Jones Oct. 28, 1941 2,359,318 Lay et al Oct. 3, 1944 2,363,054 Fields et al Nov. 21, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 150,117 Great Britain Sept. 2, 1920 

